This is a specialty new and used book store with a specific emphasis on military history and the American Civil War. They are not a general used book store.

If you have any interest whatsoever in military history, and even if you don't but love wonderful book stores, this shop is worth seeing. There are other used book stores in Richmond but none as unique and special as this. There are also no other stores that carry as many Civil War titles, something of a proud title to hold in an area as steeped in Civil War history as Richmond is.

Aside from being a warm, friendly, and accommodating proprietor, the owner is also a passionate book lover. Quoted around the store is Thomas Jefferson's famous line "I Cannot Live Without Books." Amen! Clearly someone in love with books and history as much they are deserves to be supported in whatever way possible.

Prices are reasonable and run the range from a wall of $5 books to rare first editions from the 1860s and everything in between.

Highly recommend store if you are a rare book lover or are interested in history and the Civil War.

This is an outstanding bookstore with a great selection especially for the WBTS. The owners Marc and Jill Ramsey have routinely gone out of their way to help their clients find the books they need and want. The prices are very reasonable ...MoreThis is an outstanding bookstore with a great selection especially for the WBTS. The owners Marc and Jill Ramsey have routinely gone out of their way to help their clients find the books they need and want. The prices are very reasonable and the condition of the book is always better than described. I cannot rate them highly enough and recommend them to everyone without reservation.

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The Love of Books

By Irene Buckley – July 15,
2015

There are many little ways to
enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.-Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

What a pleasure it will be if my son loves
books the way my brother and I did. And what a pleasure if he can know others
who also love books. Marc Ramsey is one of those people. I knew we were going
to get along when he said this about his favorite authors: "When you’re at work
during the day, you can’t wait to get home to the book. You walk through the
door, kiss the wife, feed the cat, and head for your chair. Then all of a
sudden, it’s hours later, and you’ve really been listening more than reading,
because they’re telling you the story.”

***

Marc Ramsey and his wife Jill ownOwens and Ramsey Historical
Booksellers. The shop is in Bon Air, a Richmond
suburb and a reprieve from the unmediated sprawl of chain stores and
restaurants like those in much of Southside. Ramsey explained that Bon Air used
to be the first stop on the railroad out of Richmond, developed as an area with
vacation homes for people seeking fresh air and an escape from city life.
Today, many lovely Victorian homes remain on Buford Road.

The Ramseys’ shop is tucked away
in a corner of a small commercial building off Tinsley Drive. Several rows of
shoulder-height wooden shelves run down the center of the store, and more
shelves line the walls. The majority of their collection consists of books
about the Civil War, or written during that time period, from battles and
leaders, to memoirs and biographies. "There’s nothing more interesting than a
firsthand account,” Ramsay said.

The couple started their business
20 years ago. Ramsey and his wife were running a radio station in Louisa, but
it changed ownership and they came to Richmond for work. Ramsey began working
as a newscaster for WRVA, and one evening, just before the five o’clock news,
he saw an ad in the paper announcing a military bookshop for sale. "With about
five minutes to go before airtime, I called Jill up and said, ‘Hey, how about a
military bookshop?’ And she said, ‘Let’s do it.’”

The original owner started the
shop eight years prior to the Ramsey’s purchase. Ramsey said the store came
with a lot of debt, and had been neglected. He and his wife came up with a
business plan that included a monthly direct mailing. Gesturing to the
bookshelves in his shop, Ramsey said, "What you see here is really an
operations center. We maintain an open shop when we’re in town, but this is
really where we launch from.” Ramsey explained that they produce a catalog in
the shop that gets mailed all over the United States and wins them the majority
of their sales. A third of their business comes from going to Civil War shows
or conferences up and down the eastern seaboard, packing up the portable wooden
crates they use for shelving and driving to Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina,
and Maryland.
Although he doesn’t like the driving itself, Ramsey said he enjoys seeing new
places and meeting people. He is particularly fond of the Mosby Heritage Conference
in Middleburg, VA, where he and his wife are the primary booksellers during a
few days of lectures and battlefield tours. He said they take two vehicles and
set up 1200 books. When they’re not selling, they get to meet authors and
attend lectures. "Middleburg in October is just as beautiful as God’s creation
gets. It’s Loudon County, rolling hills, stone houses, stone walls, horse
country, historic homes all over the place,” he said.

When asked about building the
store’s collection, Ramsey said that on a good day, someone will walk in with
some very interesting books to sell, but they generally buy whole collections.
They also work with a network of dealers. Ramsey said he is working on building
collections for some buyers. "There are some people who just buy to speculate;
a book is an antique to them, so they’ll be hoping to sell it for a profit.
Those are the kind of people I’m not as crazy about dealing with. I like
dealing with people who actually read the books.” Ramsey said that one client
buys five or ten books at a time, and calls him up to talk about them once he’s
finished. "He’s a joy to deal with.”

One of the most interesting books
Ramsey said he has in the store right now is The Personal Reminiscences of
Ulysses S. Grant. "Mark Twain helped put this publishing venture together.
Grant was in a race with death, dying of cancer, and wanted to write his
account and get it out there.” Ramsey said the book is an honest and objective
account of the war’s final year, and Grant was "at the eye of the storm.” The
Autobiography of Eppa Hunton is another gem Ramsey had in the store, until
he sold it for $5,000. Hunton was a colonel in the Confederate Army, and
published this one book for his family after the war. Only 100 were ever
printed, and Ramsey called it the "crown jewel” of Civil War collecting: "Only
about 25 are accounted for in collections around the country.” Ramsey said that
some of the best books written during the Civil War were books by women who
lived through the period. According to Ramsey, Diary from Dixie by
Mary Chestnut is a standard, but the one he likes best is Recollections
Grave and Gay by Constance Carrie Harrison. "It’s just the most vivid
account of Richmond during the war that you’re ever going to read. She was also
a novelist, so she really knew how to put words together.” Ramsey said that he
prefers historians who are also storytellers to writers who simply string facts
together.

Ramsey has a lifelong interest in
history. Originally from Pennsylvania, he grew up visiting battlefields and
learning about the Civil War with his family. He came to Richmond to study
theater and history at VCU. Today, he participates in reenactments and gives
guided tours of battlefields and other historical sites. Ramsey is passionate
about sharing his love of history with others; recently, he achieved his dream
of writing a book, The Seventh South Carolina Cavalry: To the Defense of
Richmond, published by Broadfoot
Publishing Company. "They’re South Carolina troops, but it’s a Richmond
story,” he said. "They were the last troops out of Richmond. These guys were
the very last Confederate troops over Mayo’s Bridge, and after they crossed it,
they burned it so the Yankees couldn’t follow.”

Ramsey said he worked on his book
for three years, writing, researching, and soliciting information at
conferences by placing a sign on his table: ‘Seeking information about the
Seventh South Carolina Cavalry.’ Recently, two women bought his book and found
their ancestors in it. Excited to share the information, they rented a bus and
hired Ramsey to take their whole family to sites where the Seventh South
Carolina camped, fought, or passed through. Ramsey said, "There were some bored
teenagers on the ride, but once we got to the earthworks their ancestors had
helped construct, they started exploring and asking questions, and I could see
that the buzz had begun. The family keeps in touch from time to time, and they
tell me the kids still haven’t stopped talking about it.”

In addition to being a bookseller
and reenactor, Ramsey is a board member with the Richmond Battlefields
Association. The Association purchases and preserves land in the Richmond area,
with the intent of giving it to the national park service. Ramsey said they
just gave 18 acres to the park in Cold Harbor, the site of the Seven Days’
Battles of 1862, a battlefield where he enjoys giving tours. "I talk about
history and the preservation of land, hopefully to encourage that. Saving the
greenspace of Virginia is just a good thing to do. These parks are islands of
serenity.”
When asked why a neophyte should pick up a historical book, Ramsey said that
it’s hard to make people take an interest in history. He said people with a
strong interest in history often had the good fortune of being taught by a
great history teacher at some point in their lives. "People miss an awful lot
when they only focus on the present. You can’t understand things nearly as well
without reading history. History shows us what people did, and why, and how it
led to where we are today.”

After the interview, Ramsey
commented on how well-behaved Squeakers was for such a young baby. I agreed.
He’d spent the first half of the interview studying his monkey toy and fitting
first one, then the other hand into his mouth, and the second half asleep. At
the very end, he woke up and decided to show off his best toothless smile. I’m
pretty sure he understands more than he lets on.

When we got home, the beginning
of a thunderstorm was darkening the sky, so I took him to his room to read
books and listen to thunder. Usually I read the same stack of short, sing-songy
board books that double as chew toys if the need for a chewing break arises,
but with the sky rumbling and rain drops starting to pelt the window, I reached
for a longer book from the shelf and found myself holding The Story of
Ferdinand. Although this copy of the book was shiny and new and yet to be
loved, I remembered my mom reading the story of the little bull who didn’t want
to fight like other bulls. I remembered the pen-and-ink illustrations,
especially the men with the funny hats from Madrid, and Ferdinand’s shocked
face when he sat on the bumblebee. I realized there will be countless moments like
these, when I will share my favorite books with my son, and for him, they will
all be new. With Squeakers snuggled into the crook of my arm, I opened the
book, turned to the first page, and read: "Once upon a time in Spain, there was
a little bull and his name was Ferdinand.”

This month, we are pleased to feature Owens & Ramsey, another great bookseller we have the pleasure of working with on a regular basis.

Q: How long has Owens & Ramsey been in business?

A: Marc and Jill Ramsey bought Owens Civil War Books in 1995, almost 19 years ago, a business which was started in 1987, and renamed it

Owens & Ramsey Historical Booksellers.

Q: What inspired you to open Owens & Ramsey?

A: We love books! Marc has had a life-long interest in the American Civil War, and we were looking for a related business to buy - this seemed a perfect fit.

Q: Where are you located?

A: Our brick-and-mortar store is at 2728 Tinsley Drive, Richmond, VA 23235, and you can find us on our website at www.owensandramsey.com.

Q: Are your customers mainly locals or tourists?

A: Neither. While we do have a number of loyal local customers, and a good number of battlefield visitors to Richmond who find us, our largest customer base is found at the Civil War conferences and shows that we attend,

and through our monthly catalog mailing.

Q: What sets Owens and Ramsey apart from other bookstores?

A: Unlike most other small, independent bookshops, we focus on history, especially military history, with an emphasis on the American Civil War. We specialize in signed first editions, and we do appraisals

for charitable deductions or insurance purposes.

Q: If a new customer was to walk into your store on a typical day, what would they see?

A: Well-stocked shelves, a cozy, lamp lit interior, two knowledgeable booksellers and Star, the bookstore cat, all ready to help people with history.

Q: What types of books do you carry, and how are your books organized?

A: We carry new, gently used, and very rare books on a variety of topics, with an emphasis on Civil War history. You can also find sections on Virginia, World Wars I and II, General Military, Reference, Vietnam, British, Historical Fiction, and African American studies. Most of our books are hard cover with fine dust jackets in Mylar protective coverings, and most are of the quality that we would include in our own book collection at home.

Q: Thank you very much for sharing with us, Marc. Any final thoughts?

A: As the author of The 7th South Carolina Cavalry, to the Defense of Richmond (Broadfoot Publishing), Captain of the 15th VA Infantry reenactment group, board member of the Richmond Battlefields Association, historical interpreter for the U.S. Park Service, and as avid supporters of battlefield preservation, we quite literally live the subject. And while business conditions have been challenging in recent years for independent bookstores, there are positive signs. Membership in the American Booksellers Association, the independents' trade group, is up more than 200 since 2009. Bookshops continue to close, but for the first time in a while more shops are opening and existing bookshops are operating at more than one location. Here at Owens & Ramsey, thanks to our many loyal customers and the new ones who continue to find us, we believe we're just in the middle of our run.

I received the donation form, and I appreciate so much your helping
me dispose of Tom's books to a source that would appreciate them. Also I
received the check for the other two sculptures that you sold. Thank you for
that as well. That was generous of you.

Always you will be in my heart
in that my husband's lifelong historical collection of books are finding its way
back into the hands of those who appreciate reading history, especially Civil
War history. You have no idea how much I appreciate your boxing the books, and
taking them to various places. Tom would be so pleased in knowing that Marc
Ramsey of Owen's & Ramsey, a store which he frequented, bought many of his
books, and transferred those which he couldn't use to the public library in the
City of Richmond. Marc, you are much more than a bookseller; you are the epitome
of a lover of history.

Thank you for your part in my feeling comfortable
in relinquishing the books that my husband treasured.

South of the James River in Bon Air lies a gem of a book store. Primarily a Civil War books specialist, Owens & Ramsey also features other military specialty books and some Civil War related items. Due to historic tourism and local family history ties to the military, the demand is huge.

Owens & Ramsey offers cash pending condition and scarcity of Civil War books. They also offer limited memorabilia and an appraisal service if you desire to keep your family's military history or if you wish to start collecting. It's usually best to call ahead if bringing in items to the shop. The prices are reasonable and vary; depending the quality, scarcity of books or items you desire. The store is reminiscent of visiting a veteran grandfather's private study--well organized with comfortable seating to aid browsing shelves, and a friendly cat that may decide to perch on your lap.

I want to thank you for your assistance, graciousness and hospitality when I visited your wonderful store on 3/16/13 Saturday noon last. I am the gentleman who spoke to you regarding my ancestor, Gen. Arnold Elzey CSA. I really appreciate your interest on my behalf. While having peripheral knowledge of him, your additional efforts and inquiry without me asking touched me and I would like you to know of my appreciation. I have since shared with some of my older relatives what you learned and shared with me; and their response was along the line of "why didn't we hear about that?!" I do like the text on T. Jefferson I purchased, and have already read much.

It was quite nice to meet Star as well, she has talent.

When in Richmond again, I will certainly come by. Thank you again for your interest and efforts, they are appreciated by myself and my family.

Whether exploring our area's legendary battlefields or simply bookshop browsing, please stop by to see us at Owens &Ramsey Historical Booksellers. We are an independent local bookshop in the historic Bon Air section of Richmond, formerly a Victorian village for summering Richmonders.

Open Monday through Saturday, the shop offers an abundance of books on a variety of military, historical and political subjects. We publish and mail a free monthly catalog, featuring the most interesting titles we have acquired in any given month. The Current Catalog link is also available on this website. Please call or visit anytime.

Members: The Virginia Antiquarian Booksellers Association, the 15th VA Infantry reenactment group, Richmond Battlefields Association, The Museum of the Confederacy, The Virginia Historical Society, Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation, Civil War Trust, Cedar Creek Battlefield Association, Mosby Heritage Area Association, Friends of the Confederate War Memorial Chapel, Bon Air Historical Society, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the Daughters of the American Revolution.